Yes, you can freeze feta cheese and it’s easy to do so—the secret is to dry the cheese and wrap it tightly. We’ll walk you through it!
Freeze-Ability Index
How Long in Freezer
3 months
Best Stored In…
Airtight container OR freezer bag, wrapped in plastic wrap
How to Thaw
Fridge OR cold water
What to Expect
Loss of taste, crumbly
Can feta cheese Be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze feta cheese. It’ll lose its flavor and the texture will change a bit. Fortunately, there is a trick to fix the flavor loss.
The key to freezing feta cheese is wrapping it right. Fortunately, this is easy to master.
How to Freeze feta cheese
Before you get started, think about how much feta you’ll want to defrost later—if you have a large amount of feta to freeze and you don’t think you’ll thaw it all at once, cut it into smaller pieces. It’ll thaw faster this way, too.
How To Freeze Feta Cheese In A Container Or Freezer Bag
Equipment
- A clean towel
- Freezer-safe cling wrap
- A resealable, plastic freezer bag OR an airtight, freezer-safe container
- Freezer labels
- A permanent marker
- Space in your freezer (not the freezer door)
Instructions
- Remove the feta cheese from its brine. Take a clean towel and pat the feta dry.
- Place the feta onto the plastic wrap and double-wrap it.
- Place the wrapped feta cheese in an airtight container OR freezer bag. If you’re using a bag, press all the air out of the bag and seal it shut.
- Write today’s date on a freezer label and stick it to the bag. Place the dated bag or container deep into your freezer, and you’re done!
The Best Airtight Containers (Glasslock)
• Over 3,700 Reviews
• 4.5 out of 5 Stars
These airtight glass containers from Glasslock don’t leak or absorb food smells, they’re oven-safe, freezer-safe, microwavable, and affordable.
Can you Freeze feta cheese crumbles?
Yes, feta cheese crumbles can be frozen. Before freezing them, check the feta cheese crumbles for mold or a sour smell/taste. If the cheese seems moldy or smells off, toss it.
How To Freeze Feta Cheese Crumbles
Equipment
- 2 resealable, plastic freezer bags
- A straw (optional)
- Freezer labels
- A permanent marker
- Space in your freezer (not the freezer door)
Instructions
- Empty the feta cheese crumbles into a freezer-friendly, resealable plastic bag.
- Press the bag gently to remove extra air. Seal the bag almost completely.
- Insert a straw into a corner of the bag, and suck out any remaining air. While you're still sucking out the air, slide the freezer bag down the straw, and quickly seal the bag.
- Place this sealed freezer bag into another freezer bag, and repeat steps 3 and 4.
- Write today's date on a freezer label, stick it to the freezer bag, and pop the bag deep into the freezer.
Equipment Shopping list
I made this quick list for you in case you noticed that you were low on freezer bags, permanent markers, or you feel like picking yourself up a little present.
I’ve either used these tools or added them to my own shopping list because they’re affordable and they get great reviews. Add them to your next Amazon order!
The #1 Permanent Marker (Sharpie)
• Over 1,000 Reviews
• 5 out of 5 Stars
• Vibrant & permanent
The Ultimate Freezer Bags (Hefty)
• Over 2,000 Reviews
• 4.5 out of 5 Stars
• Tough and easy to fill
The Handiest Freezer Labels (Chinco)
• Hundreds of Reviews
• 4.5 out of 5 Stars
• Water-resistant, easy to remove, no residue
The Clingiest Plastic Wrap (Freeze-Tite)
• Hundreds of Reviews
• 4.5 out of 5 Stars
• Amazon’s Choice
Can You Freeze Feta In Brine?
You don’t need to freeze feta in brine. The first step to freezing feta cheese is to remove it from the brine and pat it dry. Here’s our 2-minute guide on how to freeze feta cheese (i.e., scroll up.)
Can You Freeze Cooked Feta Cheese?
Yes, you can freeze cooked feta cheese. Follow the same steps as you would for uncooked feta.
Best Practices for Freezing Feta Cheese
- Here’s how long you can keep feta in the fridge before freezing it:
- If your feta is in brine (liquid) and refrigerated, you can freeze it within 1 month.
- If the feta is not in brine and refrigerated, you can freeze it within 1 week.
- Check the feta for mold before freezing it. If it smells or tastes sour, toss it out.
- If you’re freezing a lot of feta and you probably won’t thaw it all at once, cut it into smaller pieces before wrapping it up. It’ll thaw faster this way, too.
How Long Can You Freeze feta cheese?
You can freeze feta cheese for up to 3 months, but aim to defrost your feta cheese within 1 month for better results.
How Do You Thaw Frozen feta cheese?
There are two easy ways to thaw frozen feta cheese:
- In the fridge overnight, which is slower but easier.
- In cold water. This method is faster but involves more work.
How NOT to Thaw Feta Cheese
How NOT to Thaw Feta Cheese- Never defrost feta cheese in the microwave.
- Never defrost feta cheese by allowing it to thaw on the counter and come to room temperature.
How To Thaw Frozen Feta Cheese In The Fridge
Equipment
- A plate OR towel
Instructions
- Take the feta cheese out of the freezer. Open the bag or container and remove the plastic-wrapped feta cheese, but keep it wrapped.
- Place the wrapped feta cheese onto a plate or towel and put it in the fridge. Don’t unwrap it, or it’ll dry out. Let it defrost overnight (or for 12 hours at minimum.)
- After at least 12 hours, take the feta cheese out of the fridge and unwrap it.
- Taste a piece of cheese. Here’s how to fix it if it has lost its flavor.
- Use thawed feta cheese in your favorite recipes within 2 to 3 days.
How to Thaw Frozen Feta Cheese In Cold Water
Equipment
- A large bowl OR a clean sink
- Cold water
- A resealable bag (if you froze the feta cheese in a container)
Instructions
- Remove the freezer bag(s) of feta from the freezer. Leave it wrapped and in the bag. If you froze the feta in a container, transfer the wrapped feta to a resealable bag.
- Fill your sink or a bowl with cold water (not warm.)
- Submerge the freezer bag in the water. Leave it there for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, replace the water with fresh, cold water. Let the feta thaw for another 30 minutes.
- Gently squeeze the feta cheese to check if it’s thawed. If not, repeat with another 30 minutes of thawing time until the cheese no longer feels frozen.
- Take the cheese out of the freezer bags and unwrap it.
- Taste a piece of feta cheese. Here’s how to fix it if it has lost its flavor.
- Eat or use the cheese in a recipe within 2 to 3 days.
What to Expect After Defrosting Feta Cheese
Here’s what to expect after you’ve defrosted feta cheese:
- Defrosted feta cheese is a lot more crumbly. You may not want to use it in salads, but it’s still great for recipes that require feta.
- Feta cheese may lose its flavor after freezing. If you want that salty flavor, here’s how to get it back.
Eat thawed feta cheese within 3 days and always keep it in the fridge.
How To Restore Flavor to Thawed Feta Cheese
If you froze and defrosted feta and it doesn’t have much taste, it’s easy to get that salty flavor back. Here’s how to do it:
- Get a bowl or container that is deep enough to submerge the feta in brine.
- Make brine in another container. Add 1 teaspoon of salt for every 1 cup of water and mix.
- Place the feta in the container or bowl. Cover the feta with brine.
- Seal the container or wrap the bowl in plastic wrap.
- Place the container/bowl in the fridge for 2 hours. The cheese should be salty again.
Can You Re-Freeze feta cheese?
Re-freezing feta cheese isn’t recommended. Its texture will worsen, it’ll lose its flavor and, from a food safety perspective, it generally isn’t a good idea to re-freeze feta cheese.
Right, But What About…
Do you know a better way to freeze feta cheese? Or are you looking for info on something else? Leave a comment below or email us—we’d love to hear from you!
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